Amherst

These Neighborhood News items are good for the week of June 24 through June 30.To contribute to Amherst Neighborhood News, submit your events online at MorningJournal.com/calendar.

Independent Living: The Amherst Public Library will host an informational class on Tuesday to help people learn more about independent living, assisted living, nursing home and skilled care. The class will be hosted by Gayle A. Reeves, CO., L.P.A. There will be two sessions offered: 2 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Call Gayle at 967-6565 to reserve a seat.

Pool closed: The Anna Schmauch Pool, 960 Cleveland Ave., will be closed to the public at 4 p.m. Tuesday for the Amherst Summer Swim Team to have a home swim meet against Rocky River.

Rain water: Learn the benefits of saving rain water and how easy it is to get started with composting when Ann Gedeon, of Rain Barrels n'MORE, presents a program on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Amherst Public Library. The event is free. Contact the library at 988-4230 for more information.

splashZone Trip: The Amherst Summer Recreation Program will host a trip to splashZone Aquatic Center, 95 W. Hamilton Road, on Tuesday. The cost is $10, with permission slips and money (no checks) due by 11:45 a.m. today. The bus will leave from Harris Elementary School, 393 S. Lake St., at 11:15 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m. Visit www.amherstsummerfun.com for more information.

Book signing: Author Tricia Springstubb will be at the Amherst Public Library on Thursday. Beginning at 2 p.m., she will have a short book talk followed by a children's craft. Copies of her newest picture book, "Phoebe and the Digger," will be available for purchase and signing.

Gold panning: Join the Amherst Summer Recreation Program for a nature hike around Mill Hollow and to pan for gold in the Vermilion River on Thursday. The cost is $6 and permission slips and money (no checks) are due no later than 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday. The bus will leave from Harris Elementary School, 393 S. Lake St., at 9:30 a.m. and return at noon. Visit www.amherstsummerfun.com for more information.

Alzheimer detection:Steffani Baker, from the Alzheimer's Association, will present a one-hour workshop that stresses the importance of early detection for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias on Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Amherst Pubic Library. To register for the free program, call (800) 272-3900.

See a play: The Workshop Players will put on performances of "On Golden Pond," Thursday through Sunday, July 5 through July 7, and July 12 through July 14 at the Workshop Players Theatre-in-the-Round, 44820 Middle Ridge Road. All performances Thursday through Saturday will be at 8 p.m., with Sunday performances starting at 3 p.m. House opens 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the show. Tickets are $12. Contact the box office at 988-5613 for more information.

Lego fun: Lovers of Legos are invited to the Amherst Public Library for an hour of fun and creative building on Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. The event will take place in the local history room. Children should be able to work independently without a parent, and the recommended age is 8 and up.

Open auditions: Auditions for "A, My Name is Alice" will take place July 1 to July 2 at 7 p.m. by the Workshop Players. The auditions are open to females ages 18 and older and will take place at the Workshop Players Theatre-in-the-Round, 44820 Middle Ridge Road. Anyone who wishes to audition is asked to bring sheet music for a song in their key and have a prepared one-minute comedic and one-minute dramatic monologue. Visit www.workshopplayers.com for more information.

Library meeting: The Amherst Public Library will have its regular board meeting on July 8 at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

Friends meeting: The meeting of the Friends of the Amherst Public Library will take place on Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. in the library.The Friends is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting the library by fundraising by providing various programs and special events while advocating reading within the community. New members are always welcome. The Friends are still collecting gently used paperbacks for the veterans now through July. Please leave donations at the library.

Theater production: Come into the lives of Norman and Ethel Thayer as they live out their 48th summer in their cottage on Golden Pond in Maine. Norman (Gerry Wiess), a crusty old fellow, forges a relationship, sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching, with a young boy (Jason Molek) left with them for the bulk of the summer by their semi-estranged daughter (Jayne Kacik). Ethel (Marcia Deist) mediates the family dynamics with genuine affection as the summer unfolds. It is a love story, a play about discovery, a tale of both sadness and joy, of regret yet hope. The cast includes Kevin Boland and Herb Hadders. It is the perfect way to round out the season. Shows start at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12. Groups of 15 or more pay $10 each. Doors open 45 minutes before the show. The theater can accommodate two wheelchairs. Advance reservations strongly suggested.

Meet the author: The Amherst Public Library and the Oberlin Public Library are hosting an afternoon with Ohio author Tricia Springstubb on Thursday. Springstubb's newest picture book, Phoebe and Digger is a big-hearted, reassuring story featuring a young girl who must contend with not only a new baby in the house, but also playground bullies. At 2 p.m. the author will present a short book talk followed by a childrens' craft at the Amherst Public Library. At 4 p.m. the author will head to the Oberlin Public Library for a Kids' Writing Workshop for grades 3-6. During each library program the author will have books available for purchase and signing.